In the Shpakovskaya regional laboratory of the biomethod of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhozcenter in the Stavropol Territory, equipment has been prepared and breeding of the common lacewing has begun, the press service of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Russian Agricultural Center in the Stavropol Territory reports.
This entomophage is designed to destroy the most dangerous pest of vegetable crops grown in greenhouses and in the open field. The lacewing is excellent at controlling aphids, thrips, and other sucking pests.
It is these insects with sucking mouthparts that are dangerous carriers of potato viruses. Lacewing larvae are efficient predators with high prey consumption and excellent searching ability, so they are valued as effective biological control agents. At the same time, insects grown artificially are able to eat more pests than those grown naturally. Lacewing larvae can consume up to 100 aphids per day.
Today, it is economically profitable to grow entomophagous insects in order to release them into the fields, where they will eat pests of agricultural crops.
Colleagues from Tatarstan shared mother material for starting production with scientists and workers of the center. Now the biolaboratory will have to multiply the mother material and start production. The first eggs of the entomophage have already been obtained.
This news is very interesting for companies and agro-firms involved in the original seed production of potatoes, as test-tube plants are most often grown in controlled greenhouse conditions.